According to the international system of unit (SI) Electric tension is also named as voltage. Voltage is the difference of electrical potentialbetween two points of an electrical or electrical circuitsexpressed in volts. It is the measurement of the potential for an electric field cause an electric currentin an electric conductor. Depending on the difference of electrical potential it is called extra low voltage, low voltage, high voltage or extra high voltage. Specifically, voltage is equal to energy per unit charge.
Introduction
There are many countries using different voltage and frequency ranges as a country standard. There are four types of voltage and frequency ranges set as a worldwide standard which are as following below. ·220-240v / 50hz ·220-240v / 60hz ·100-127v / 50hz ·100-127v / 60hz In this chapter I explain why the different countries choose different voltage and frequency ranges and also to give the basic information regarding to the voltage and frequency ranges set by the countries as their standard. Due to the voltage Range standard set by the different country we are affected in our daily life. Like electric appliances from USA cannot be used in Germany due to the different voltage ranges or may need to change the voltage of power supply.
History of Voltage
In 19th Century, the system of three phasing(Alternating current electrical generation, transmission, and distribution was developed by Nokia Tesla, George Westinghouse. A Direct Current (DC) system at 110v was developed by Thomas Edison. The 110 volt level was chosen to make high-resistance carbon filament lamps practical and economically competitive with gas lighting. While higher voltages would reduce the current required for a given quantity of lamps, the filaments would become increasingly fragile and short-lived; Edison selected 100 volts as a compromise between distribution costs and lamp costs. In 18th century only carbon-filament incandescent lamps were available, designed for a voltage of around 100 volts. Later metal filament lamps became feasible. In 1899, the Berliner Elektricitäts-Werke (BEW), a Berlin electrical utility, decided to greatly increase its distribution capacity by switching to 220 volt nominal distribution, taking advantage of the higher voltage capability of metal filament lamps. The company was able to offset the cost of converting the customer's equipment by the resulting saving in distribution conductors cost. This became the model for electrical distribution in Germany and the rest of Europe and the 220-volt system became common. North American practice remained with voltages near 110 volts for lamps. In 1883 Edison patented a three wire distribution system to allow DC generation plants to serve a wider radius of customers. This saved on copper costs since lamps were connected in series on a 220 volt system, with a neutral conductor connected between to carry any unbalance between the two sub-circuits. This was later adapted to AC circuits. Most lighting and small appliances ran on 120 V, while big appliances could be connected to 240 V. This system saved copper and was backward-compatible with existing appliances. Also, the original plugs could be used with the revised system. At the end of the 19th century, Westinghouse in the US decided on 60 Hz and AEG in Germany decided on 50 Hz, eventually leading to the world being mostly divided into two frequency camps. Most 60 Hz systems are nominally 120 Volts and most 50 Hz nominally 230 Volts
List of Voltage and frequency by country Worldwide
There are some reason behind adapting different voltage and frequency range standard in different countries. As I have explained in the history of voltage, Mostly in Europe & other countries are using 220-240v standard because it has an influence from the historic electricity development in Europe and widely spreading market all over the world. At the time the US also wanted to change but because of the cost involved to replace all electric appliances, they decided not to. At the time (50s-60s) the average US household already had a fridge, a washing-machine, etc., but not in Europe.
Table of Contents
Definition
According to the international system of unit (SI) Electric tension is also named as voltage. Voltage is the difference of electrical potentialbetween two points of an electrical or electrical circuitsexpressed in volts. It is the measurement of the potential for an electric field cause an electric currentin an electric conductor. Depending on the difference of electrical potential it is called extra low voltage, low voltage, high voltage or extra high voltage. Specifically, voltage is equal to energy per unit charge.Introduction
There are many countries using different voltage and frequency ranges as a country standard. There are four types of voltage and frequency ranges set as a worldwide standard which are as following below.· 220-240v / 50hz
· 220-240v / 60hz
· 100-127v / 50hz
· 100-127v / 60hz
In this chapter I explain why the different countries choose different voltage and frequency ranges and also to give the basic information regarding to the voltage and frequency ranges set by the countries as their standard. Due to the voltage Range standard set by the different country we are affected in our daily life. Like electric appliances from USA cannot be used in Germany due to the different voltage ranges or may need to change the voltage of power supply.
History of Voltage
In 19th Century, the system of three phasing(Alternating current electrical generation, transmission, and distribution was developed by Nokia Tesla, George Westinghouse. A Direct Current (DC) system at 110v was developed by Thomas Edison. The 110 volt level was chosen to make high-resistance carbon filament lamps practical and economically competitive with gas lighting. While higher voltages would reduce the current required for a given quantity of lamps, the filaments would become increasingly fragile and short-lived; Edison selected 100 volts as a compromise between distribution costs and lamp costs. In 18th century only carbon-filament incandescent lamps were available, designed for a voltage of around 100 volts. Later metal filament lamps became feasible.In 1899, the Berliner Elektricitäts-Werke (BEW), a Berlin electrical utility, decided to greatly increase its distribution capacity by switching to 220 volt nominal distribution, taking advantage of the higher voltage capability of metal filament lamps. The company was able to offset the cost of converting the customer's equipment by the resulting saving in distribution conductors cost. This became the model for electrical distribution in Germany and the rest of Europe and the 220-volt system became common.
North American practice remained with voltages near 110 volts for lamps. In 1883 Edison patented a three wire distribution system to allow DC generation plants to serve a wider radius of customers. This saved on copper costs since lamps were connected in series on a 220 volt system, with a neutral conductor connected between to carry any unbalance between the two sub-circuits. This was later adapted to AC circuits. Most lighting and small appliances ran on 120 V, while big appliances could be connected to 240 V. This system saved copper and was backward-compatible with existing appliances. Also, the original plugs could be used with the revised system.
At the end of the 19th century, Westinghouse in the US decided on 60 Hz and AEG in Germany decided on 50 Hz, eventually leading to the world being mostly divided into two frequency camps. Most 60 Hz systems are nominally 120 Volts and most 50 Hz nominally 230 Volts
List of Voltage and frequency by country Worldwide
World Map Voltage & FrequencyList of countries using (100-127v / 50 Hz and 100-127v / 60 Hz) Frequency & Voltage
List of countries using (220-240v / 50 Hz and 220-240v / 60 Hz) Frequency & Voltage
Conclusion
There are some reason behind adapting different voltage and frequency range standard in different countries. As I have explained in the history of voltage, Mostly in Europe & other countries are using 220-240v standard because it has an influence from the historic electricity development in Europe and widely spreading market all over the world. At the time the US also wanted to change but because of the cost involved to replace all electric appliances, they decided not to. At the time (50s-60s) the average US household already had a fridge, a washing-machine, etc., but not in Europe.References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_power_systems